The Politics of Cricket World Cup

 After 2011, It's time for India to host the Cricket World Cup again and we hope that the Indian team win again just lie they did las year. Because till now,  the Indian cricket team has been in great form. India has been dominating the World Cup with a series of impressive victories, leaving no other team in serious contention. In this World Cup, the Indian cricket tram broke several records. In the match against Sri Lanka, the team achieved the historic victory in World Cup history, bowling out the opposition with just 55 runs and winning with a massive 302 run lead. 

Mohammad Shami set the record for the most 5-wicket haulas in World Cup an becoming India's most successful bowler in world cup history with 45 wickets in just 14 matches . The previous record was held by Zahir Khan with 44 wickets in 23 matches. In the recent semi-final matches he went on to break record more. His stamdout performance include 7 wickets and 57 runs, marking the best individual performance by an Indian in ODI cricket history. Additionally, he became the fatest bowler to reach a 50 wicket haul in just 17 innings.

On the batting front, our top star batsmem Rohit Sharma and Virat kholi accumulated nearely 1,300 runs together. Rohit Sharma score a century, while Kholi score 3. Virat Kholi broke many records too. He has now surpassed 50 ODI centuries, The only batsman in history to beat this record. The previous record was held by Sachin Tendulkar at 49 ODI Centuries. Additionally, he broke another record held by Sachin. Most runs made by any batsman in Wolrd Cup. In 2003 World Cup, Sachin Tendulkar set the record at 673 runs and kholi has already scored 711 runs in the World Cup edition . 

Beyond Indian, the world cup has seen other interseting records, including two highest run- scoring matches in this Wolrd Cup. The first in the Sri Lanka vs South Africa game with a total of 754 runs. And the Australia vs New Zealand game with 771 runs. And the hstoric match between Australia and Afganistan. In which, Glenn Maxwell broke multiple record scoring 201 runs on 128 balls, not out becoming the first non- opening batsman to achieve a double century. His partnership with the captain of the Australian team, became the highest 8th wicket partnership in the history of ODI cricket. 

Today , cricket is the second most popular sport after the football with the estimated 2.5 billion folloowers. While around 3.5 billion prople are football fans. This number is significant, not merely due to India's large population, as the cricket fan base is nearly double that of the Indian population and not every Indian is a cricket enthusiast. The roots of cricket's popularity can be tracked back to the British  Empire.

Unfortunately, the current state of the sport reveals a concentration of control in the hands of only three major countries, with India  holding the strongest influence . While the ICC theroretically comprises 12 full members and 94 associate countries, The practically reality is that ICC is controlled by the BCCI, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and Cricket Australia (CA).

The consolidation of power escalated after Feburary 2014 when the ICC implemented structural and financial reforms granting India, England, and Australia nearly complete control obver cricket's governmance. This power shift extended to the big Three Controlling the flow of money. Out of ICC's total projected gross revenue of $2.5 billion, the BCCI received a significance share of $570 million or 22.8 % . England and australia obtained $143 million and $132 million, consulting 5.7% and 5.2% shares, respectively. This distrtibution left associated member with minimal financial support.

The Big Three argued that the funds invested in cricket development in associate countries did not yield satisfactory returns promting a reduction in financial support. Fortunately in 2017, this model repealed, and a new model was introduced. When the voting took places for the new model, 13 votes were in favour, and only one voted dissented. This dissenting vote was cast by the BCCI. Because, under this new model. BCCI's share would be reduced from $570 to $293 million. A share cut from 22% to 11%.

Concurrently, associated countries were allocated $280 million to stimulate growth in cricket in religious where the sport isn't very popular yets. Regrettably, this model endured for only six years. This year, another model was passed, granting BCCI complete financial control over international cricket. In July 2023, the ICC approved a new revenue system, where full members will recieve an 88.8% share of revenue between 2024 and 2027. Over the next three yeras ICC's earning are expected to be around $600 million annualy, with BCCI receiving $230 million. The associate teams would receive 11% combined.

And the other full members would get a share in this singled digits.

The rationaled behind this new revenue system is the same as the one in 2014 that BCCI  significantly contributes commercially to cricket. Given that most advetisers and the IPL are Indian- centric, 85% of commercial weightage is attributed to BCCI. This signifies that BCCI's contribution to the cricket economy ranges from 70% to 80%. Notably, the biggest contributor to the cricket economy is the IPL, commonly reffered  as a Cash Cow.